It had been a reasonably brief evening, however a protracted day and marketing campaign when Assemblymember Harvey Epstein stepped up behind Mary O’s bar on Avenue A in entrance of a display displaying principally mayoral race election protection.
With no less than 85 % of the votes tabulated, Epstein mentioned he was at practically 40 %, considerably forward of different candidates within the Democratic major for the Second District Metropolis Council race.
Supporters within the closely Democratic district chanted “Harvey, Harvey, Harvey” earlier than he smiled and instructed them his lead now appeared conclusive, regardless that it may very well be no less than every week earlier than votes based mostly on rankings have been tabulated to present a transparent majority.
Epstein had received over 10,000 votes or 39%, whereas Sarah Batchu and Andrea Gordillo every had a bit of greater than 5,500 or about 21%, Anthony Weiner had about 10% or about 2,700, and Allie Ryan had a bit of greater than 2,000 or simply under8%.
Epstein within the Meeting represents the East Facet of Manhattan, together with the Decrease East Facet, East Village, Stuyvesant City/Peter Cooper Village, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Tudor Metropolis and the United Nations.
“You know really from the bottom of my heart, this is a community I love, a community I raised my children in, a community Anita (Epstein’s spouse) and I have lived our lives in,” he mentioned. “This is our home, our friends, our neighborhood. It’s a privilege to have served our neighborhood in the Assembly and to be the next council member for District Two.”
Wearing an orange shirt and khaki shorts, Epstein, elected in 2018, mentioned he had reached what he known as some extent the place statistics indicated victory.
“We’ve been working hard, getting our questionnaires together, getting our materials out, our videos, on the street,” he mentioned. “Thank you all for all the work you’ve done. It’s been a crazy day. I want to thank you for the energy, time and commitment you had to get us to where we are today.”
Harvey Epstein and his spouse, Anita.Photograph by Claude Solnik
The bar burst into cheers as individuals who labored and volunteered for Epstein celebrated, surrounded by marketing campaign memorabilia stuffed into luggage and mendacity round. Amara Ostroff, at age 21, had been engaged on campaigns since 14, however mentioned working as Epstein’s subject supervisor was her first full-time job out of school.
“This is my community. I love the Lower East Side, the East Village,” mentioned Ostroff, including she had began her work day at 5 a.m. “I was looking for a job in politics. I saw Harvey. I thought, as my Assemblymember he’s done some incredible work for this community.”
She was interviewed in the identical bar the place the victory social gathering was held because the marketing campaign “came full circle.”
“I think the work he’s done is impactful. He has so much empathy. He knows the people in this community,” Ostroff mentioned. “I walk down the street with him. It’s almost annoying. We stop every thirty seconds to talk to somebody that he knows, that he helped.”
The victory in some methods marked the group successful over superstar or no less than notoriety, with Epstein garnering way more votes than Anthony Weiner, though different candidates additionally did properly. A Saturday Evening Dwell skit no less than briefly additional thrust this emphatically native election into the nationwide highlight.
“We’re his neighbors. We got to know him before politics were involved,” John Ellis, an East Village resident, mentioned. “He was a good guy. He’s a good listener. He remembers everyone. I liked him before I thought of him as a politician.”
Different residents mentioned Epstein is true on points they care about, together with immigration and housing.
“He stands up for all the issues we care about, immigrant rights, housing rights, racial justice,” mentioned Mable Tso, an East Village resident. “We live in a Mitchell-lama. He worked on passing a bill in the legislature that reduced the rent burden of Mitchell-Lamas in Manhattan. That just passed and is waiting to get signed by the governor.”
Different individuals talked about how Epstein, a lawyer, listens and legislates, reaching recognition due to what he does proper to assist native residents.
“We were chatting with voters. People know him well in this area,” his son Joshua mentioned. “Having people see the poster and saying they voted for him. Other people appreciate him the way we do.”
His daughter Leila mentioned she spent a whole lot of time along with her father just lately, when he was in Albany, the place she lives. “He lived with me when he was in Albany,” Leila mentioned. “I spent the last six months every week with him. So I do a lot with him. I work in Albany.”
Harvey’s mom Barbara Jumps up after Harvey proclaims sizable leadPhoto by Claude Solnik
Epstein grew up on Lengthy Island, dwelling in Wantagh and attending Levittown colleges, his mom Barbara mentioned.
“He was the president of his senior class in the Levittown school district,” she mentioned, noting she had thrown her hat in first for a neighborhood place in a closely Republican space. “I ran for Town of Hempstead clerk and supervisor.”
Epstein labored as an lawyer, earlier than working in authorities, however individuals who know him say as a lawyer he was engaged on points, specializing in causes and group, that will concern him later.
“I’ve been a housing attorney. Harvey was a local housing attorney,” mentioned Joan Beranbaum, co-president of her native Democratic membership. “That’s a really important thing to be doing, to protect the tenants of the city of New York.”
He served on the local people board for a few years, together with as group board chairman. “He was a good chair. He was even-handed. People liked him. He ran things well,” mentioned Neighborhood Board 3 District Supervisor Susan Stetzer. “He very much listens to the community and fights for the issues important to the community.”
Barbara Epstein, his mom, mentioned that whereas attending to know residents, by campaigning, she acquired to know extra about her son.
“He’s worked very hard on this campaign and extremely hard being a New York State Assemblyman for his constituents,” she mentioned. “I was out campaigning with my granddaughter. I met someone who said to thank him. He helped her not get evicted from her apartment.”
